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By Maricel V. Cruz, Reporter
ADMINISTRATION members of the
House of Representatives Committee on Ethics Committee terminated
Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano’s cross-examination of the President’s
husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, when the latter lost his temper over
the congressman’s grilling.
Rep. Jose Solis of Sorsogon moved
to terminate the cross-examination, citing Cayetano’s “illegal,
misleading and baseless” questions on the finances and bank
accounts of the Arroyo family.
Members of the committee then
voted to end the cross-examination, covering all complaints filed
against Cayetano.
The committee is hearing an
expulsion case against Cayetano filed by Mr. Arroyo; his brother,
Rep. Ignacio Arroyo; son, Rep. Juan Miguel; and another son,
Diosdado. The four men claim Cayetano should be expelled for giving
false information about their alleged bank accounts in a German
bank.
The two Arroyos, Iggy and Dato,
have yet to be cross-examined.
Arroyo lost his temper when
Cayetano pressed him anew to sign a waiver categorically allowing
the opening of the Arroyo family’s bank accounts, and asked if a
“certificate” from the German bank would give details about the
account.
In a high-pitched voice, Mr.
Arroyo demanded Cayetano join the committee’s planned fact-finding
trip to Germany to verify the existence of the accounts.
“Why are you presenting so many
things? That’s why I am asking you to join us [in going to
Germany] for you to ask anything you want to ask, anything you want
to know . . . otherwise, you’ll be proven you’re a big liar,”
Arroyo said.
He refused to answer directly
many of Cayetano’s questions and spent much time muttering
accusations about Cayetano’s “lies.”
“The documents speak for
itself, whether we ever had an account,” Mr. Arroyo responded to
Cayetano, referring to the bank certification. “It’s only you
who fabricated the story. We never had an account before, during,
now and in the future.”
When Cayetano then asked about
the Arroyo’s investments abroad, Mr. Arroyo responded, “That’s
none of your business!”
Cayetano reminded Mr. Arroyo that
his questions were for the interest of the Filipino people, since
they dealt with the President’s spouse.
Mr. Arroyo replied: “So what if
I am the spouse? What’s wrong with being the spouse [of the
President] . . . I am not even a public official.”
Mr. Arroyo said the Arroyo family
has maintained bank accounts only in the Philippines.
“There is none . . . never
anywhere else in the world,” the President’s husband insisted.
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